Persicaria maculosa

Persicaria maculosa

The Red Leg (Persicaria maculosa (Raf.) S.F. Gray, 1821) is a shrub species belonging to the Polygonaceae family.

Systematics –
From a systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota Domain,
Kingdom Plantae,
Subarign Tracheobionta,
Magnoliophyta Division,
Magnoliopsida class,
Subclass Caryophyllidae,
Polygonales Order,
Polygonaceae family,
Genus Persicaria,
P. maculosa species.
The following terms are synonymous:
– Persicaria dubia (Stein) Fourr. (1869);
– Persicaria maculata (Rafin.) Á. & D. Löv (1956);
– Persicaria mitis Delarbre (1800);
– Persicaria persicaria (L.) Small;
– Persicaria pulicariodea Friche-Joset & Montandon (1856);
– Persicaria ruderalis (Salisb.) C.F. Reed (1982);
– Persicaria ruderalis var. vulgaris (Webb & Moq.) C.F. Reed;
– Persicaria vulgaris Webb & Moquin-Tandon (1846);
– Peutalis persicaria (L.) Rafin. (1837);
– Polygonum acutum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum agreste Fries (1839);
– Polygonum albescens Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum arnassense Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum benearnense Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum biforme Wahlenb. (1824);
– Polygonum camptocladum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum caneusculum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum clophilum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum debilius Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum dolichopodum Ohki;
– Persicaria dolichopoda (Ohki) Ohki ex Nakai;
– Polygonum dubium Stein;
– Polygonum elatiusculum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum erythrocladum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum fusiforme Greene;
– Polygonum hirtovaginum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum humifixum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum intermixtum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum interruptellum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum lacunosum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum lamellosum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum lapathifolium var. persicaria Flowers;
– Polygonum leucanthemum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum longipilum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum lugdunense Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum maculatum Dulac (1867);
– Polygonum maculatum Rafin. (1817);
– Polygonum minus auct. not Huds .;
– Polygonum minus var. subcontinuum (Meisn.) Fern .;
– Polygonum millepunctatum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum nisus Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum obscurum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum ochroleucum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum oenochroa Gandoger (1875);
– Polygonum orthocladum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum ovatolanceolatum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum pallidiflorum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum pauciflorum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum paucifoliatum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum persicaria L .;
– Polygonum persicaria var. angustifolium Beckh .;
– Polygonum persicaria var. ruderal (Salisb.) Meisn .;
– Polygonum praelongum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum puritanorum Fernald;
– Polygonum ramondianum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum rechingeri Sennen (1929);
– Polygonum rhombaeum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum rigidulum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum rivulare Roth (1821);
– Polygonum rubellifolium Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum ruderale Salisb. (1796);
– Polygonum rufescens Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum subcanum Gandoger (1882);
– Polygonum subsimplex Gandoger (1875);
– Polygonum virescens Gandoger (1882).
Furthermore, this species has a high variability and presence of hybrids with differentiations that often make identification difficult. Here are some varieties and subspecies.
– Persicaria maculosa subsp. hirsuticaulis (Danser) S. Ekman & Knutsson;
– Persicaria maculosa var. angustifolium Beckh .;
– Persicaria maculosa var. persicaria;
– Persicaria maculosa var. ruderal (Salisb.) Meisn ..

Etymology –
The term Persicaria comes from malus persica peach: due to the leaves similar to those of the peach tree of many species in this genus.
The specific maculosa epithet comes from macula macchiato: spotted.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
The Red Leg is a plant with an originally Eurasian distribution that has become cosmopolitan in the temperate zones of the world.
In Italy it is present in all regions, including the entire Alpine arc.
Its habitat is that of ruderal environments and disturbed vegetation of gardens, ditches, shores of ponds, landfills, on loamy-clayey soils from fresh to humid, from neutral to subacid, rich in nitrogen compounds, usually from sea level up to about 1300 m asl and beyond.

Description –
The Persicaria maculosa annual shrubby plant that reaches dimensions between 30 and 120 cm.
It has a taproot and an absent underground stem.
The epigeal stem is ascending, cylindrical, shiny and reddened.
The leaves are lanceolate-acuminate in shape, with a very short 1-2 mm petiole and have a dark inverted V-shaped spot on the upper side; transparent ocrea, pubescent and with lesini formed denticles.
The inflorescence is formed by short axillary spikes, the dense and erect terminals of 5-8 cm.
The flowers are white-pink with a 1-1.5 mm white-green perianth, 5 tepal elements, 6 stamens, supero syncarpic ovary with 3 carpels.
The fruit is a diclesium with a pinkish white perianth of 1.5-3 mm and an anthocarp (achene) of 1-2.5 mm, plano-convex or trine with the three concave faces, included or just protruding.

Cultivation –
Persicaria maculosa is an annual plant that is harvested in nature for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials.
This plant can be very competitive with other cultivated plants, particularly in wetlands, and has the ability to spread quickly once introduced to an area. The economic impact of this plant on crops is sufficient for various governments to declare it as an invasive species. Among other things, it is a plant that is not very attractive to grazing animals; instead the seeds are highly sought after by birds.
The plant can however be grown in sunny soils at altitudes from 100 to 1,800 meters.
Persicaria maculosa is a very cold resistant plant, able to tolerate temperatures down to about -25 ° C when completely dormant. It is also a very adaptable plant and can be found throughout much of the temperate zone, extending into the subtropics and even moderate to high altitudes in the tropics.
The substrate can be both calcareous and siliceous with an acid pH (from 8.5 to 4), with good nutritional levels of the soil and medium quantities of water.
Propagation occurs by seed with sowing to be carried out directly in the open field in spring.
The seeds are dormant when removed from the plant and require a cold, wet period to break dormancy. The duration of initial seed dormancy varies widely on individual plants and between populations. Seeds normally germinate in spring and those that do not germinate in the first season go into secondary dormancy.

Customs and Traditions –
Persicaria maculosa is a plant that has a certain tradition of use both as a food and medicinal plant in some popular traditions.
The reddish spots often present on the leaves meant that unsubstantiated haemostatic properties were attributed to the plant in folk medicine.
For food use the leaves and young shoots, both raw and cooked, are used.
As for the seed, there is no specific information for this species, but the seed of most, if not all species of this genus is edible both raw and cooked, and is potentially a good source of amino acids. Unfortunately the seed is quite small and complicated to use.
According to popular medicine, this plant has several healing properties including the vulnerary property (heals wounds), vermifuge (eliminates intestinal worms), rubefacient (draws the blood to the surface, relieving internal pressure), hemostatic (blocks the leakage of blood in case of haemorrhage – function performed by fresh leaves), astringent (limits the secretion of liquids), and diuretic (facilitates the release of urine). In general this plant is used against kidney diseases, against gout and scurvy; it seems to be valid also for toothache.
As for the biochemical composition, this plant contains a significant amount of tannins. In detail, it contains about 1.9% of fats, 5.4% of pectin, 3.2% of sugars, 27.6% of cellulose, 1% of tannin.
Among the other uses of this plant, yellow-reddish dyes are obtained especially for dyeing linen.

Preparation Method –
The leaves of the Persicaria maculosa are used in the kitchen which can be used (suitably treated) instead of pepper (they are very spicy aromatic); if they are young they can be used as a salad. But it seems they can cause liver damage so it’s best not to use them; they may also contain small quantities of oxalic acid (a harmful substance). In some areas, even seeds are considered edible.
The plant is used in various parts as a medicine.
In America, the Cherokee, Chippewa, and Iroquois Indians (native population of the North-East of the United States) use decoctions of this plant for dermatological (skin infections), gastrointestinal (diarrhea) and urinary uses, but also for veterinary uses.
The plant produces infusions that are used as a treatment for stomach pains and kidney stones.
The crushed leaves were used by rubbing them on the affected parts to relieve the poison ivy provoked rash.
A decoction of the plant, mixed with flour, was used as a poultice to relieve various pains.
Finally, it is reported that a decoction of the plant has been used in foot baths and baths in the treatment of rheumatism.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (ed.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and experiences with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.

Warning: Pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not represent in any way a medical prescription; therefore no responsibility is taken for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.